With layoffs, GCI employment dives record 10%

[Workforce size as of Dec. 31, each of past 15 years]

Reflecting a wave of job reductions, Gannett's employment plunged 10% last year, to 41,500, from 2007 -- the biggest annual drop in the past 15 years, according to the company's just-filed annual Form 10-K.

In fact, total employment would have fallen much more, but for Gannett's purchase last September of majority control of jobs site CareerBuilder. For the first time, GCI counted all 2,000 CareerBuilder workers in its global 41,500 headcount. Take them out, and Gannett's total workforce actually fell more than 14% from 2007, on an apples-to-apples basis.

Also new in today's 10-K: an employment breakout for the digital portfolio companies, which include CareerBuilder: about 2,500 at the end of last year; GCI did not provide a comparable figure a year ago.

These companies include the jobs site and ShopLocal "from the dates of their full consolidation," plus PointRoll, Planet Discover, Schedule Star and Ripple6. So, back out CareerBuilder, and the digital portfolio companies employ about 500 total.

Newsquest paces losses
Companywide, employment peaked at 53,400 in 2000, following the $2.6 billion all-cash acquisition of Central Newspapers, which included The Arizona Republic and The Indianapolis Star.

The U.S. Community Publishing newspaper division now accounts for 70% of all employees, down marginally from 71% in 2007, the 10-K shows. Among operating units, U.K. newspaper division Newsquest reported the biggest employment reduction, nearly 19%.

U.S. newspapers
2007: 32,800 employees
2008: 29,200
Change: down 11%

Newsquest
2007: 8,100
2008: 6,600
Change: down 18.5%

Broadcasting
2007: 3,000
2008: 2,700
Change: down 10%

Earlier: Our paper-by-paper list of December job cuts

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